Automatic street or station indicator and advertiser.



PATENTED JULY 10, 1986.

G. R. LIVERGOOD. AUTOMATIC STREET 0R STATION INDICATOR AND ADVERTISER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1905.

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3 m we nio c No. 825,330. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. G. R. LIVERGOOD. AUTOMATIC STREET 0R STATION INDICATOR AND ADVERTISER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1905.

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No. 825,330. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

. G. R. LIVERGOOD. AUTOMATIC STREET OR STATION INDICATOR AND ADVERTISER.

APPLICATION FLA!) JULY 25, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD, on ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO J. UARG IL L, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI. AUTOMATIC. STRlEET/ R STAl'ION INDICATOR AND ADVERTISER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 25, 1905. Serial No. 271.170-

.lratenteci July 10, 1906.

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that LGERALD R. LIVERGOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the countyofBuchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Street or Station Indicatorsiand Advertisers; and I do declare the following to-be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refseparate advertisement.

I attain my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of the machine, the case removed, showing a magnet, armature and racks, one of the cogwheels, and bellcrank levers and the connectin -levers a plurality of card-feeders and their connecting attachments. Fig. 2 is an ed e detail of mechanism which feeds the car s horizontally. Fig. 3 is a side View of the same, showing the card-feeder and sprin -pawl. Fig. 4 1s a top view of the device, roken apart and the case omitted, showing the elevators and their spring-pawls operating the cards vertically, the cogged wheels, then" lever connections at each end, and an electromagnet. Fig. 5 is a front view of a machine-case and the glass face back of which the'cards with names of streets or stations and advertisements appear, the case broken away to show a cross-section of the frame and card-rests.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a trolley-wire, a trol- Icy-hanger to which is fastened a switchblock, and a trolley pole and wheel and trol- Icy-switch. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of a trolley hanger, showin the switch-block attached. Fig. 8 is a etail end view of the trolley-ham er, showing the manner in which the switchlock may be attached between the component parts of the trolley-hanger. Fig. 9 is a vertical side view cross-section of a trolleyswitch, showing the shaft and cams carried thereby, an automatic time circuitcloser, the springs, and a block that unlocks the earns, the operating-lever, and the insulated block from which the wire broken away extends that connects with "and operates the machine; and Fig. 10 is a vertical end view cross-section of said trolley-switch.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 1 is the case of the machine, and 2 is a glass front therein. v

3 3 are the parts of the frame of the machine.

4 4 represent card-frames for cards 5 5, which carry the names of streets and the advertisements. The ends are supported in tiers by horizontal rests 6 6. These rests are cast on the inside of the end pieces of frame 3 3. The name of the streets-are shown by exposing the front card of the lower tier, the consecutive streets being shown by re eatedly transferring the'front card of the ower tier to the front of the upper tier and simultaneously transferring the back card of the upper tier to the back of the lower tier. Each tier contains the names of the route one way. By the proper disposition of the cards in two tiers we are able to show, thestreets going andcoming without reversing the action of the machine.

7 is a shaft carried in hearings on the end pieces of the frame 3 3. 8 8 are gear-Wheels carried by and rigidly attached to said shaft. Said gear-wheels operate racks 9 9 at the front and 10 10 at the rear. These racks are cut in the ends of elevators 11 11, which elevators work upand down in vertical slots cut on the inside of the ends of the machineframe. Said gear-wheels carry cams 12 12, which operate pins 13 13 in blocks 14 14, which blocks areoperated in slots cut in the ends of card-rests 6 6 by the upper cam-face 12 striking onthe front side of pin 13 to close the space between the ends of the card rests and the elevators and by lower cam-face l2 striking on the back side of said 'pin 13 to open said space. The object of said blocks is to automatically close and open the space between the ends of the card rests and the elevators, thus governing the passage of said cards from the upper to the lower tier..

16 16 are levers pivotally attached to the machine-frame by pins 17 17, their inner ends slotted to engage with pins 1'8 18 on gearwheels 8 8. The outer ends of these levers are rigidly fastened to theends of armature 19, which extends horizontally across the back of the machine.

The cards are operated horizontally by meansof card-feeders 20 20. Said feeders each consists of a steel plate turned L shape at the front, end for the top feeders and 1.. shape at the rear end for the lower feeders. They operate between the ends of the cards and the inside of the end frame 3 and are fastened to the frame by means of shouldered ers and working in horizontal slots 'in said frame. .The square-shouldered pins 22 22 are rigidly fastened to said card-feeders.

, 23 23 are spring-pawl levers fastened to frame-pieces 3 3. The upper and lower cardfeeders are connected by levers 24 24,pivoted at 25 and fastened to the card-feeders by the pins at 21 21.

26 is a bell-crank lever pivoted to the frame at 27. The crank 26 is connected to lever 24 by means of the link 28 and to armature 19 by means of link 29, slotted at the lower end, 'so as to fit over pin 30 in the end of thearmature, the slot allowing the 'ar-- mature to move down independent of the link 29;

31 31 are coil-springs connecting with the card-feeders at 21 21 and attached to the frame at 32 32.

33 is an electromagnet that on being subjected to an-electric circuit attracts the armature 19 and simultaneously-first operates levers 16 16 and rotates gear-wheels8 8, carrying racks 9 9 and 10 10 with their attached elevators 11 11, the front elevators 11 being lowered to engage the front card of the lower tier, the back elevator being raised to engage the back card of the upper tier, and said en gagement being perfected by means of springpawls 34 34, fastened to the elevators,'and,

second, the bell-crank 26, with links 28 and 29 and lever 24, moves the card-feeders 20 20, so that their outer ends are in line with the card-elevators. The pins 22 22 are engaged by the pawl-levers 23 23. On the circuit being broken the springs 15 15, attached to armature 19 and to frame3, pull the armature down, and with it the levers 16 16 rotate the gear 8 with the racks and elevators, the front elevator transferring the front ca'rd'of the lower tier to the front of the upper tier, the back elevator transferring the back card of the up er tier to the back of the lower tier. Thepaw -levers 23.23 on being touched by the cams 35 35 release the pins 22 22, allowing the springs 31 31 to pull the card-feeders against the cards, thus moving them horizontally into the new position due'to the transfer.

In order to operate the aforesaid indicator successfully, it is necessary to provlde a mechpins 21 21, fastened rigidly to the card-feed anism that will positively close the circuit \84 sufiicient length of time once for each block to allow the magnets to act on the armature. This oflice is performed by means of a switch-box fastened to the upper end of the rences. To give time for the magnets to act properly at all rates of speed of the car and at the same time to provide for automatic 'adjustment in case of backups is the function performed by the trolley-switch hereinafter described.

' 36 is a trolley-switch attached to trolleypole 37, as shown in Fig. 6. This trolleyswitch isoperated by lever 38 passing switchblock 39, said block being fastened to the trolle -hanger 40, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

41 1s a shaft'that works in bearings in the switch-case 42. To the shaft is attached rigidly the lever 38 and the cam 43. Cam 44 is loose on shaft 41', but is held to its position by the spring-pawl 45, stationary on cam 43 and fitting on a corresponding rest in cam 44. Studpin 46 is fastened rigidly to cam 43 and extends parallel to shaft 41. It is of 'suflicient length to extend across cams 43 and 44 and limits the relative position of said cams to the distance of one stroke of lever 38, said pin 46 moving to either end of curved rest 47 on cam 44.

48 is an air-tube which receives the plunger 49, carrying brush 50, which when the circuit is closed contacts with the insulated block 51, to which is fastened wire 52, leading to the machine. 53 is a spring fastened to cam 43 by pin 46 and to the frame 42 at 54. Said air-tube may be constructed of varying lengths, and said plunger may fit tight or loose, causing the air to enter slow or fast, and thus regulate the time of contact. Said spring pulls the shaft back to center after the lever has made a stroke in passing a switchblock. When the switch 36 passesv block 39 as the car is moving forward, the lever takes the position shown at 55 in Fig. 6. The cam 44 drives the plunger 49 into tube 48, wiping brush 50 against the block 51.

56 57 are stud-pins in cam 44.

58 is a spring fastened to frame 42 at 59 in Fig. 9. Pin 57 brushing on spring 58 holds the cams on center. Should the car back past switch-block 39, the lever 38 would take position 60, as shown on Fig. 6. The shaft 41 would move backward one stroke. The pawl 45 would strike block 61 and unlock cams 43 and 44.- g The pin 56 would brush spring 58 and hold cam 44 stationary, while the shaft was pulled to the center. Pin 46 would move to the opposite end of slot 47. When the switch moves forward past the first block, the cam 44 is pulled one stroke forward. Pin 57 is again pulled to brush spring 58 and holds cam 44 stationary while the shaft is pulled on center and the spring pawl 45 drops in place, locking the cams in their normal position. Now when the second block is assed the second instead of third street wiflbe shown.

62 is a guard attached tothe switch-box to prevent the lever closingjlie circuit in case the trolley should leave the Wire.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic .street or station indi cator and advertiser, the combination of a case provided with a glass front to permit a view of the street or station names or numbers and the advertisements, a frame provided with vertical slots cut in its end pieces, duplicate gear-wheels and a shaft carried by bearings on the end pieces of the frame, front and rear elevators adapted to travel up and down and racks on the ends thereof adapted to be operated by said gear-wheels, aplurality of card-frames,spring-pawls attached to said elevators toenga c said card-frames, cards and horizontally-s otted rests for supporting the same in tiers, pins and blocks operating. in said slotted rests to automatically open and close the space between the ends of the card rests and elevators, duplicate levers slotted at their inner ends, pivotally attached to the frame and engaging at their inner slotted ends with pins in the ear-Wheels, L shape upper and lower cardeeders provided with pins adapted to operate in slots in the frame, duplicate levers connecting and operating the upper and lower card-feeders, coil-springs forming connectionbetween the frame and card-feeders, .duplicate bell-cranks and connecting-links, levers and spring-pawls and squ are-shouldered ins, which simultaneously move the card-fee ers into position to engage and operate the cards horizontally. after they are transferred vertically and duplicate springs to move the mechanism forming connection with the card-elevators, and transfer the cards.

2. In an automatic street or station indicator and advertiser the combination with a circuit-closer, of a case provided with a glass front to permit a view of the street or station names or numbers and the advertisements, a frame provided with vertical slots cut in the end pieces thereof, duplicate gear-wheels and a shaft carried by hearings on the end pieces of the frame, pins rigidly fastened to said gear-wheels, front and rear elevators adapted to travel up and down and racks on the ends thereof, adapted to be operated by said gear- I tors, car

Wheels, a plurality of card frames, cards and horizontally-slotted rests for supporting the same in tiers, pins and blocks operating in said slotted rests to automatically open and close the spaces between the ends of the card rests and elevators, cams attached to said gear-wheels adapted to engage said pins in said blocks and move them forward or backward, an armature extending horizontally across the back of said machine, duplicate levers slotted at their inner ends pivotally attached to the machine-frame rigidly fastened to said armature and engaging at their inner slotted ends with the pins in the gear-wheels, L-shaped card-feeders provided with pins adapted to operate in slots in the frame, duplicate levers connecting and operating the upper and lower card -feeders, coil-springs forming connection between the frame and card-feeders, duplicate bell-cranks and connecting-links, an electromagnet adapted to attract the armature which operates the mechanism forming connection with the cardelevators and moving said elevators into position to engage the cards, spring-pawls attached to said elevators and adapted to engage the card-frames, duplicate springs attached to said armature to recover said movement of the mechanism and transfer the cards, square-shouldered pins fastened rigidly to'said card-feeders, sprin -pawls fastened to the machine-frame and a apted to engage and hold said pins after said card-feeders have been moved into position to engage the cards, cams attached to said gear-wheels to release said square-shouldered pins from said springpawls after the cards are completely elevated allowing said coil-springs to pull said cardfeeders against the cards thus transferring them horizontally after they have been transferred vertically, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an automatic street or station indicator and advertiser, the combination of a machine-frame, duplicate gear-wheels and a shaft carried by bearings on the end pieces of said frame, front and rear elevators adapted to travel up and down and racks on the ends thereof adapted to be operated by said earwheels, s ring-pawls attached to said e evaframes adapted to be engaged by said pawls, an armature extending horizontally across the back of the machine, duplicate levers slotted at their inner ends pivotally attached to the machine-frame rigidly fastened to the armature and engaging at their inner slotted ends with pins in the gearwheels, an electromagnet adapted to attract the armature and operate the mechanism forming connection with the card-elevators and move the elevators into position to engage the cards, duplicate springs attached to said armature to recover said movement of mechanism and transfer the cards, substantially as shown and described;

4. In an automatic street or station indicator and advertiser, a machine-frame, L

.levers Connecting and operating the upper and lower card-feeders, coil-springs forming connection between the frame and card-feed ers, duplicate bell-cranks and connecting-la vers, an armature, an electromagnet adapted to attract said armature which operates the mechanism forming connection with the card feeders, square-shouldered pins fastened rigidly to said card-feeders,card-frames,springpawls fastened to the machine-frame and adapted to engage and hold said pins after said card-feeders have been moved into position to engage said card-frames, cams attached to said gear-wheels to release said square-shouldered pins from said spring-pawls after the cards are completely elevated allowing said coilsprings to pull said card-feeders against the cards thus transferring them horizontally, substantially as shown and described.

5'. In an automatic street or station indicator and advertiser the combination with slotted card rests and elevators, of blocks and pins operating in said slotted card-rests to aut'oniatically open and close the spaces between the ends of said card rests and elevators, a machine-frame, duplicate gear wheels and a shaft carried by bearings on the end pieces of said frame, duplicate cams attached to said gear-wheels adapted to enga e said pins in said blocks and move said bloc s forward and backward an armature extending horizontallyacross the back of said machine duplicate levers slotted at their inner ends pivotally attached to the machine-frame rigidly fastened to said armature and engaging at their inner slotted ends with pins in the gearwheels, an electromagnet adapted to attract said armature which operates the mechanism forming connection with the blocks in the slotted rests, substantially as set forth and shown.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses'.

GERALQ R. LIVERGOOD.

Witnesses -REX LAROOM, Loro VIGUS. 

